Phorid flies are most often confused with fruit flies ( Drosophila spp.), however, fruit flies have characteristic red eyes that phorid flies lack ( Figure 5). Other Similar Flies Skip to Other Similar Flies The pupae (puparia) of common phorid flies are oval and slightly flattened, with short spikes and two distinct breathing (respiratory) horns ( Figure 4). Larval phorid flies are not often seen, but pupae may coat surfaces near where the larvae developed. The easiest way to identify phorid flies, though, is their distinct wing venation they have heavy veins near the front margin of the wing, with 3-4 parallel veins going across the wing from that area ( Figure 3). The back legs of phorid flies are often flat and long in relation to their body size. They have short antennae (located on the front of the head) and rather spiky hairs on the face and head ( Figure 1 and Figure 2). They range in colors, often being black, brown, yellow, or a combination thereof. The adults are, on average, 1⁄ 8" in length with a characteristic hump on the thorax (the area between the head and abdomen) when viewed from the side. Phorid flies opt to run erratically across surfaces rather than flying, which can help distinguish them from other groups of flies. Phorid flies are colloquially known as “scuttle” flies due to their sporadic movement patterns. Questions on species identification can be directed to our Plant and Disease Insect Clinic. Flies in the family Phoridae range in size and appearance depending on the species in question. Descriptions of “phorid flies'' and their identification, biology, behavior, and control will be based on the habits of these species, but note that there are other species of phorid flies that may be encountered in North Carolina. The two most common phorid fly species found in and around households are Megaselia scalaris and Dohrniphora cornuta. Some species of phorid flies are used for biological control because they parasitize fire ants ( Pseudacteon spp.), but in this document we only focus on phorid flies that are considered nuisance pests in and around the home. However, we emphasize that these instances are fairly rare and the presence of these flies in and around the home is typically only a nuisance to those affected. Additionally, these flies are capable of transmitting bacterial pathogens onto foods or working surfaces in food preparation facilities. Phorid flies are mainly nuisance pests, but there are some cases of larval infestations of human orifices such as the eyes, wounds, and intestines. They can even breed in coffins underground. The common name of ‘coffin fly’ comes from their tendency to breed in mausoleums and/or other areas where human corpses can be found. Thus, they are often found in and around the home as these breeding sources are abundant in urban environments. Phorid flies (also called scuttle, hump-backed, and coffin flies) are small flies ( 2⁄ 64- 1⁄ 4” long) that breed in moist, decaying organic matter.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |